Device for polishing shoes



July 30, 1940. J. W.DOUGHERTY DEVICE FOR POLISHING S HOES Filed May 13, 1937 Jam SENVENTORI Patented July 30, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE James W. Dougherty, McKeesport, Pa.

Application May 13, 1937, Serial No. 142,444

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improved means for polishing shoes by means of electric power.

The objects sought in this invention are to provide a motorized speed reducer for the polishing brush which will eliminate many of the parts now found in shoe polishing machines; to provide a frictional coupling for connecting the polishing brush to the speed reducer that will slip in case excessive pressure is applied .to the brush or the foot gets caught in the polishing brush. This frictional coupling will prevent accidents to the machine user, prevent burning of the shoe leather and prevent excessive loading of the motor. Further objects are to provide guards for the polishing brush and its hub to prevent accidents due to entanglement with the brush or contact with the brush hub when it is revolving; to provide a polishing table having a non-corrosive top surface on an inferior metal base to prevent rusting and accumulating of oxides which would detract from the efhciency of the shoe polishing machine. i

I attain these and other objects by means'of the shoe polishing machine illustrated in the 25 accompanying drawing; in which- Figure 1 is a side View of the shoe polishing machine.

Figure 2 is a front view of the shoe polishing machine.

Figure 3 is a plan View of the shoe polishing machine.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the polishing element showing the means provided for instantly stopping the polishing element, in case the users 5 shoe becomes entangled therewith.

Similar numerals will refer to similar parts throughout the several Views.

The steel legs I to which is welded the top plate 2 covered with a brass plate 3 and securely held thereto by means of the countersunk screws 4, constitute the polishing table. Secured to the bottom surface of the polishing table plates 2 and 3 by means of the cap bolts 8, is the motorized speed reducer, consisting of an electric motor 5 with reducing gears 6 and a vertical driving shaft 1 projecting upward through a hole in the plates 2 and 3. On the top of the polishing table plates 2 and 3 is a guard ring 9 for preventing the users shoe from contacting the revolving brush hub l I, and to keep oil from the motor shaft bearing from getting near the polishing brush bristles I2. The guard ring 9 is also threaded to receive the cap screws 8 thereby securing the motor and ring to the polishing table plates 2 and 3.

55 The numeral [0 refers to the lower part of the brush holder which is keyed to the vertical driving shaft 1 by means of the key la and revolves therewith.

The brush hub l I with the polishing bristles l 2 constitute the polishing brush mounted on the 5 brush holder i0 and capable of revolving therewith when sufiicient pressure is brought to bear upon the brush huh I I, by means of the upper part of the brush holder it, through the agency of the spiral spring IS, the washer l5 and the bolt [4 tapped into the lower part of the brush holder III. This is a frictional coupling which will enable the brush to slip and stop in case the users shoe. becomes entangled in the revolving brush or excessive pressure is applied to the brush.

The numeral i 7 refers to a cupped annular guard adapted to cover the top portion of the hub and the frictional means, previously enumerated, to frictionally drive the polishing brush. It is removably fastened by means of screws l9 to a foot guard 20 which in turn is fastened to the polishing table plates 2 and 3 by means of the cap screws 2!. It is also provided with a foot rest portion l8 cast integrally therewith, which is used to rest the shoe on when applying shoe polish with the brush 32.

The numeral 22 refers to a tube passing through the foot guard 25 and is secured thereto by means of the cap screw 22a. Mounted on the upper end of the tube 22 is the coin and coin controlled time switch box 25, with a. removable and lock secured back plate 26, a coin controlled time limit switch 24a, a handle for operating the switch 21, a hole 26 for inserting the coin and wires 2% leading from the switch to the electric motor 5, thence to 1'' the receptacle 23 and out to the electric supply lines by means of wires 23a.

Securely mounted on the tube 22 are the polishing paste holders 29 with covers 29a and hinge 29b. The numeral 30 refers to a holder for the liquid paste container 3| having the tube 33 communicating with brush 32, which is used to apply liquid polish or cleaner to the shoes to be cleaned.

The cross arms 28 attached to the tube 22 are used to support and steady the person using the machine.

Having thus described the different views shown on the drawing, I now claim as my invention, the following:

1. In a shoe polishing machine, a brush having a hub portion, said hub portion having a hollow portion extending axially therethrough, a pair of spindles-relatively axially movable in said hollow portion, flange means on both spindles arranged and adapted to frictionally engage portions of the hub to frictionally drive same, resilient means to bias said spindles into a hub engaging position, and means to rotate one of the spindles.'

2. In a shoe polishing machine, a table, a shaft 5 projecting vertically through the table, a guard ring secured to the table and positioned to encircle the shaft, 2. brush having a hub portion frictionally mounted on the shaft with the lower part of the hub portion encircled by the guard ring, and means to rotate said shaft.

JAMES W. DOUGHERTY. 

